01-23 Work Session CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
fry
1 Richfield, Minnesota
; ����}nt{°toet°w° Special City Council Work Session
January 23, 2018
CALL TO ORDER
The work session was called to order by Mayor Elliott at 5:45 p.m. in the Bartholomew Room.
Council Members Pat Elliott, Mayor; Edwina Garcia; Maria Regan Gonzalez; Simon Trautmann
Present: (arrived at 5:48 p.m.); and Michael Howard (arrived at 6:27 p.m.).
Staff Present: Steven L. Devich, City Manager; Jim Topitzhofer, Recreation Services
Director; Chris Link, Operations Superintendent; Taylor Burandt, Public Works
Administrative Aide/Analyst; and Jared Voto, Executive Aide/Analyst.
Item #1 DISCUSSION OF SOLAR OPTIONS
Public Works Administrative Aide/Analyst Burandt presented alternative energy options, giving
background on the City Council goals, the City's "Green Team", information gathering by staff and
energy audits by energy consultants, and provided a recommendation to continue the process forward
with selecting an energy consultant or installer to pursue solar projects, subject to no financial
obligation.
Councilmembers asked about the purchase power agreements, the solar array, and what
would happen if the tax credits are no longer available. Councilmembers agreed with the
recommendation.
Item #2 DISCUSSION OF ORGANICS COLLECTION
Recreation Services Director Topitzhofer introduced Ben Knudson from Hennepin County and
Molly Olson from Wood Lake Nature Center, as well as members from the Richfield League of
Women Voters and the Richfield Social Justice group. Mr. Topitzhofer shared tonight's objectives,
provided background from the September work session, and provided the five options shared at the
previous work session and two options preferred by the Council: establish organics drop off site(s)
and organize hauling and require organics collection by contract.
Ms. Olson provided the recommended action plan and went through an overview of the
recommendations and went into detail of establishing drop-off site(s) following Dakota County's
model.
Mr. Knudson discussed Hennepin County's upcoming grant program and answered questions
from Councilmembers.
Special Council Work Session Minutes -2- January 9,2018
Mr. Topitzhofer discussed the formation of an organics taskforce and their duties to establish
organics drop-off locations and working toward organized waste hauling.
Councilmembers asked questions about the process and commented on the importance of
educating the public.
Members of the audience made comments endorsing organics collection, sharing their
excitement for drop-off sites and hope that all residents will have the opportunity to participate once it
is incorporated into organized waste collection.
ADJOURNMENT
The work session was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:54 p.m.
Date Approved: February 13, 2018
-tE .ot
ay. 10
/..Ate-A 1— A
J,i0:1Voto —"ev:n L. Devich
Executive Aide/Analyst City Manager